infamous Cheese Days parade

This last weekend our yearly carNEEval was in town. Unfortunately, the carnies were also here for almost an entire week before which made everyone a little uneasy. Here are some of the photos from the Cheese Days parade celebration :) The kids loved the parade, even Nash, and we have our candy drawer full again.

Peyton and Lia go to the Catholic school here in town and the school had a float in the parade this year. Hilarious to see our priest driving the float! He's the greatest :)

another skull fracture waiting to happen!

Sometimes I'm not sure how to teach my children. For instance - common sense. Sometimes I am totally thrown for a loop and find myself standing in front of one of them thinking... "What. the. hell? Seriously." Of course, I try not to say those exact words but one is never perfect so it sometimes slips. I apologize... so I'm working in my office this afternoon directly underneath my bedroom, which is next to the girls' room. Earlier this morning I had to gently discipline the kids for jumping on the bed. Lia, Austyn, and Tayt were jumping on Lia's bed while Peyton used a pillow to karate chop at their feet/legs and knock them over. All fun and games... yes, I know... we did some special things when we were little... but I don't care to clean blood out of the white carpet in that room. BIG thank you to the previous home owners... ha!

Anyway... I'm working in my office and hear what very obviously is Nash's head hitting the floor. Crying. Still crying. I like to wait it out. Most of the time it's Austyn and sometimes Tayt making a wayyyy bigger deal of something than what the effort is actually worth. Nope. Still crying. I better go check for blood. Luckily no blood was shed but I find myself standing there... "Why? WHYYY Lia?" Her reply... "You NEVER told me Nash couldn't go on my bed!" Mind you, her attitude and mouth are well exceeding her age lately... and by NEVER did she mean I hadn't told her today... come on, I KNOW I've told her this before. I just know it. Somehow I kept my cool, didn't rip her lips off, and calmly yet in my sternest voice possible told her she CANNOT put him on her bed. Ever. Not ever. He falls. On his head. A LOT. We do notttt want another skull fracture. Just use your head and keep him off things he'll FALL OFF! Please. The kid already thinks he's Superman and climbs the kitchen chairs. He's invincible!

And still after this conversation with my 7 year old, I have no idea how to teach common sense or explain it rationally... and since we taught them, it comes back at me... "just because" isn't an answer, Mommm!

destruction...

I've been told destruction/construction of the window replacement in the new house should be underway soon. I'm not entirely sure if the windows were ordered or just measured and they're now thinking about ordering them... who knows!? I do know someone made a mess in my living room!
We also brought over 1 van load of stuff which didn't even make a dent in the amount of belongings we still have to bring over to the other house. Austyn helped bring in all the "glass" and arranged them every so carefully for me. She's my big helper :)

Tornado!

Rainy days at our house sometimes get a little chaotic. These kids hear the word 'tornado' and we're all. gonnnaaaa. DIE!!! I try to calm them down and reassure them we'll all be fine but I don't think they're convinced. And seeing the clouds forming like this outside, it's hard to keep myself convinced! Storms passed through yesterday for what seemed like every hour and during this wonderful Wisconsin weather, we had to keep ourselves busy doing something... watched some Chuck Norris (Peyton is now a huge fan!) and I attempted to play go fish with Austyn and Tayt. Hilarious! Austyn isn't so bad because she knows all her numbers but to Tayt everything is the number 3 and he can't keep his cards a secret or even all in his hand. I ask Austyn for a 3, Tayt hands me his. Austyn asks me for a Queen, and Tayt hands her his 9. Needless to say, the game ends quickly. Guess we'll have to practice. :)

Regardless of all the storming going on outside, all the kids went to sleep quickly last night and never got up the entire night. Even Duke was out like a light.